Constructing Persuasive Religious Discourse through Muḥassināt Ma’nawiyyah: A Balāghah Analysis of an ‘Īd al-Aḍḥá Sermon Manuscript

Abstract

Religious sermons constitute an important medium for conveying Islamic teachings; however, studies examining the rhetorical dimensions of Arabic sermons in the Nusantara context remain limited, particularly regarding muḥassināt ma’nawīyah (semantic embellishments) in balāghah. Investigating these rhetorical devices is important because they contribute to the aesthetic quality, coherence, and persuasive force of religious discourse. Therefore, this study aims to identify the forms of muḥassināt ma’nawīyah employed in the ‘Īd al-Aḍḥá sermon of Tuangku Ibrahim at Surau Sumur Darek, Nagari Taluk, and to analyze their rhetorical functions and meanings. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method using al-Hāshimī’s rhetorical framework. The data source consists of the text of the ‘Īd al-Aḍḥá sermon delivered at Surau Sumur Darek, Nagari Taluk. The analysis reveals 68 instances of muḥassināt ma’nawīyah, comprising al-iftinān, al-irshād, al-idmāj, al-muqābalah, al-ṭibāq, al-madhhab al-kalāmī, al-iqtibās, and murā’āt al-nadhīr. Among these, murā’āt al-nadhīr is the most dominant form, indicating the preacher’s tendency to construct thematic coherence and semantic harmony throughout the sermon. The findings further demonstrate that the use of muḥassināt ma’nawīyah enhances the rhetorical and aesthetic quality of the sermon while strengthening its persuasive dimension. These findings imply that rhetorical strategies can reinforce the delivery of religious messages in Arabic sermon discourse, enabling manuscripts to serve as a medium through which preachers compose religious texts that are often formal and rigid while remaining aesthetically engaging.